Beware of spoilers for this episode in the report below!
John Sheppard has been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel since the Wraith attack on Atlantis (“The Siege”), but he is no longer the outpost’s ranking military officer. That honor now falls to Colonel Caldwell, who has recently arrived on the base.
But Sheppard’s promotion isn’t what is on his mind now: His good friend and second-in-command, Lieutenant Aiden Ford, is missing. In the intervening episodes (possibly a still unknown, 2-part season premiere), Ford has been altered and turned into a super soldier of sorts — but one who depends on an enzyme from the Wraith to survive. This has made him a one-man army, but also a grave security risk to Atlantis, especially after he escapes the city’s security forces and gates offworld (prior to this episode).
A clue to Ford’s whereabouts sends Sheppard’s team to P3M-736, a sun-scorched world where “SuperFord” apparently killed a Wraith to get the enzyme he needs to survive. The team is soon separated, as Sheppard and Teyla are taken hostage in a cave by Ronon Dex — a human on the run from the Wraith. Ronon has a Wraith homing device implanted in his back, and has been hunted as game for the past seven years.
Dr. McKay, meanwhile, finds Lieutenant Ford. He sees that the young officer isn’t quite himself, but Ford is confident in his newfound abilities. Whatever has been done to him is the key to defeating the Wraith, he believes. Now he plans to save Sheppard and Teyla from their captor.
Not quick to trust the team, Ronon strikes a bargain with them: They will bring Dr. Beckett from Atlantis to try and remove the homing device, and he’ll help them find Ford — hopefully before the Wraith arrive.
Guest characters include Colonel Caldwell, Coughlin, Reed, Madden, and Billick — apparently all from the Atlantis base. Dr. Beckett (Paul McGillion, recently promoted to series regular [story]) also appears in the episode.
“Runner” will go before cameras in late February, and will air on The SCI FI Channel in the U.S. early this summer. Stay tuned to GateWorld and our brand new Atlantis Season Two episode guide for more in the months ahead!
(Thanks to bat22 for the tip!)